Article Tackling issues and initiating public debate: New Zealand Association of Scientists 1974–91* Geoff Gregory** Word Therapy, 21 San Priamo Place, Paraparaumu Beach, Kapiti Coast 5032 … the Association’s Council will be continuing its stated well-considered’; NZ Science Review should be a forum for policies of tackling issues and initiating public debate debate and ‘Council should stimulate such debate’ [§30/11/74].1 in matters relating to science, scientists, and the social/ The Association had responded positively to a 1974 request environmental impacts of science. from the National Commission for UNESCO for comments These introductory remarks [1] by NZAS 1978/79 President Dr on the UNESCO Draft Document on the Status of Scientific Wren Green for delegates to the 49th Congress of the Australian Researchers, which was designed to: balance recognition of and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science the contribution science made to prosperity and wellbeing with (ANZAAS), held in Auckland in February 1979, denote a ‘concern with the adverse consequences of the use of at least watershed in the emphasis placed on the activities of NZAS. some technologies, particularly in relation to the environment’; After the NZAS salary review using data from returns for the and ‘match the status of the scientist against his responsibility 5th Directory of New Zealand Science [2], there had been a toward society’ [9]. ‘pause in the pursuit of salary matters’ [3], and in their place In the 1977 salary survey, respondents expressed concerns had emerged a growing concern with the social responsibility about alienation of scientists from the public, who were losing of scientists working in fields as diverse as nuclear power and their belief in science; it was considered ‘important for the armaments, genetic engineering, pesticides, sociobiology, and Association to continue to lead and initiate in issues of wide human reproduction. Such issues were already contentious in concern [§4/3/1978]. the USA and Europe [4]. In particular, the unprecedented call by scientists in 1974 for a moratorium on their research – on Secrecy and professional ethics recombinant DNA – in view of its potential risks ‘startled the Many of the issues of the 70s and 80s, especially environmen- worldwide scientific community’ [5] and had an enormous tal and social ones, involved scientists, most of whom in New public impact. In New Zealand, the need for scientists to be Zealand worked in the public service. more accountable to the public was raised with public concerns The ruling by the Deputy Chairman of the SSC, Gordon over nuclear bomb tests in the Pacific [6], a growing activated Orr, that a ‘public servant owes a duty first to the state and the and scientifically knowledgeable public as a result of the Save government of the day; secondly, to the public …’ [10] and NZ Manapouri Campaign in the late 1960s [7], and State Services Electricity Department’s secrecy about its nuclear energy plans Commission (SSC) prohibition of public service scientists to [11] prompted the Association to organise a forum on profes- speak out on environmental and other issues [8]. In a discus- sional ethics and secrecy in Wellington in March 1975 [12]. sion in NZAS Council on future policy, it was concluded that Attended by about 90 scientists, it prompted ‘frank and lively the ‘fence-sitter has no friends, but a definite stand must be discussion’, and subsequently brought some personal cases to the attention of the Association [13]. In his 1975 Presidential *This is part 3 of the history of New Zealand Association of Scientists. address, John Offenberger had spoken of the possibility of es- Parts 1 and 2 were in New Zealand Science Review (2013) vol. 70(1): 10–19; and 70(4): 65–76. tablishing an independent tribunal or a ‘Scientific Ombudsman’ to impartially adjudicate on instances of suppression of criticism **Correspondence: [email protected] 1 § with a date refers to an unpublished minute or file note of that date. Geoff Gregory worked as a science editor in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) during the period of this review, firstly in what became the Science Information Division, of which he was Superintendent from 1978 to 1984. As well as editing numerous publications, he produced promotional materials for DSIR, and, for the Department’s 50th Jubilee, wrote the script for a film describing the Department’s activities,DSIR 50. After moving to New Zealand Geological Survey of DSIR in 1984, he scripted the video Ruamoko’s Heritage: Volcanoes in New Zealand. His research interests included effectiveness of communication of science information, especially about natural hazards, and scientific ‘revolutions’. 84 New Zealand Science Review Vol 71 (4) 2014 H (John) Offenberger, President in what turned out to be a positive outcome – creation of the in 1974/75 and 1975/76, Official Information Act 1982. carried on the Association’s involvement with science technicians by representing Women in science NZAS on the Technicians As the international feminist movement began to gain mo- Certification Authority and its mentum during the 1970s, the UN General Assembly declared successor, the Authority for 1975 as the International Women’s Year and organised the first Advanced Vocational Awards (AAVA), from the 60s until AAVA World Conference on Women (in Mexico City), at which it was dissolved in 1990 [176]. declared the years 1976–1985 as the UN Decade for Women. This was mentioned as a Talking Point in NZ Science Review [21] citing a study suggesting that ‘intellectual and scientific achievements are among the goals in which success is associated with masculinity’ [22]. In the previous year, the Association had recognised eminent and ‘whistle-blowing’ [14]. Further meetings organised in Ham- botanist, Dr Lucy Moore [23], as the recipient of the Marsden ilton and Palmerston North led to considerable media attention, Medal for Service to Science – the only woman, still, to have including support in NZ Listener for the call by the Council for been accorded this honour. Civil Liberties for re-examination of the Official Secrets Act. The Minister of Science and Technology [Hon Les Gandar] In 1975, NZAS had responded with ‘sympathy and interest’ in a radio interview repeated the policy that only an officially to a request from the Society for Research on Women about ‘op- designated scientist should be the one to speak on any particular portunities for women in science – for work and for retraining.’ issue, such as beech forests or nuclear energy, but any scientist [§ 10/04/1975] A little later that year, Doris Macdonald pub- could offer an opinion as an individual, as long as it was outside lished in NZ Science Review a commentary on statistics about his area of expertise [15]. Perhaps realising the flawed logic of ‘Women scientists: the occupational non-group’, concluding this policy, the Minister, when he spoke on science policy at that: role-conditioning was occurring from primary school the 1976 AGM of the Association, affirmed his receptiveness readers; girls were choosing school subjects that inhibited their to ‘any suggestion you have to make as to how the freedom of entry into science; significantly fewer girls than boys entered th scientists and science can be safeguarded and protected’ [16]. the 7 form where significantly fewer studied mathematics, John Offenberger elaborated on the proposal of an independent chemistry, and physics; and that science was still considered science tribunal at a forum on professional ethics and secrecy to be men’s work in New Zealand [24]. at Dunedin in April 1977 [17], and he, with NZAS Patron, Dr A letter from Oliver Sutherland [25] took NZAS Council to Bob Falla, and 1976/77 President Dr Ken Aldous presented a task for ‘passing the buck’ in its response to the UNESCO Rec- proposal to the Minister, who was receptive and asked for a more ommendation on the Status of Scientific Researchers, mentioned detailed report [18]. NZAS Vice-President Dr Wren Green spoke above, in which redressing the under-representation of women at ‘Environment 77’, a major conference held in Christchurch, in science was considered to ‘form part of a wider set of social on a panel (including Mike Minogue MP, and Mick O’Neill, the reforms’ [26]. Council responded that it was ‘of great concern Director-General of the NZ Forest Service) that was focused on to the Association’ and it would welcome female representation secrecy and the campaign to get rid of the Official Secrets Act. on Council to help promote action on this [27]. From then on, In 1978, the Government set up the Committee on Official the number of women scientists on Council increased gradually, Information, chaired by Alan Danks, Professor of Economics reaching eight in 1984/85 [28], and there was a succession of at Canterbury University. NZAS put considerable effort into women Presidents between 1981/82 and 1988/89 (Dr Ann Bell, making a submission, recommending that the electorate should Dr Gail Irwin, Dr Karin Knedler, Dr Joan Mattingley) [see Ap- have access to as much of the information used by government pendix 1]. NZAS later publicised the inaugural award in 1990 agencies as possible, and that scientists be able to speak freely of the Zonta Medal for Women in Science to Dr Jean Fleming, on issues of public concern where they have a particular exper- a member of its Council at that time [29]. tise in the area [19]. Dr Wren Green, 1979/80 President, and In the 49th ANZAAS Congress held in Auckland in 1979, the Vice-President Dr Ann Bell, represented NZAS in joining with ‘Social responsibility in science’ section organised by NZAS the newly formed Coalition for Open Government and other contained a hard-hitting review by Penny Fenwick, ‘The irre- groups to organise a conference on ‘Freedom of information sponsibility of women or the irresponsibility of science?’ [30].